Mechanization and its level

Mechanization is the use of machinery to replace human or animal labor, especially in agriculture and industry. Mechanization is minimizing or reducing labor content so as to maximize performance and economy. It spots the use of control system and instrumentation for automatic or semi-automatic production.

It uses machinery that mathematically manipulates information storing, selecting, presenting and recording input data or internally generated data as required. The quality of organization/usage based on automation or mechanization is defined for its level, span and penetration.

Mechanization is providing human operators with machinery that assists them with the muscular requirements of work. It can also refer to the use of machine to replace automatic labor or animals. A step beyond mechanization is automation.

Even the use of hand powered tools is an example of mechanization as it reduces the work of punching, screwing, drilling, or power washing a surface. This integration of machinery and equipment into manufacturing process pass thru certain level.

Mechanization refers to that stage in the development of tools and machinery where the tool passes from being an appendage of the laborer -> enhancing one or another of her own power -> to a point where the machine controls the labor process -> whole process dominated by capacities of machine.

Mechanization is characterized by the product of deadening uniformity and labor of an abstract, repetitive and meaningless character.

Mechanization in any area is characterized into 3 levels, viz low, fair and high.

Low Mechanization Level: manual power used exceeds 33%

Fair Mechanization Level: animal power used is 34 – 100%

High Mechanization Level: mechanical power used is 67 – 100%

Level of Mechanization in context to Nepal, according to RNAM, is below 0.30. The mechanization is best observed in agriculture which embraces the use of tools, implements and machines for agricultural land development, crop production, harvesting, storage and on-farm processing.

Three main power sources involved in levels of mechanization are: human, animal and mechanical.